I have a long history of watching bears destroy their wealth and that of others by living in fear of the next market meltdown. I used to work closely with an associate who felt it was their job to warn you about the next correction in stocks. In fact, this person was so whole-heartedly committed to pushing their agenda that the person was able to convince many investors about what the future holds for stocks, bonds and commodities.

They must have had some sort of crystal ball under their desk that no one else knew about.

The most egregious error was not convincing people that a correction was going to materialize. Everyone knows that the stock market ebbs and flows just like the tides. We are going to experience periods of economic expansion and contraction that is a part of every business cycle.

However, it was dangling the notion that they can make you wealthy by being able to perfectly time the market to take advantage of both the upside and downside in a choreographed symphony of trading brilliance.

1. Never Wrong, Just Early

The first thing you have to realize about a bear is that they are never wrong. They simply are early to a notion that the rest of the world has yet to realize. Whether it's the next bubble that's about to burst or a correlation to the 1929 great depression, they are always able to find a crisis that has yet to materialize.

If the market ignores their conviction and continues higher, they simply chalk it up to irrational exuberance of the masses and go into hibernation for a short period. Then when an opportunity presents itself, they trot back out the same arguments and try to convince you that the top is in.

I have watched bears call for a pullback over the last 60 points in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY). From a low of $125 in 2011 to a high of $185 in 2013 is a gain of 48% in SPY. Many bears have completely ignored this rally and have been left in the dust in terms of relative performance to the broader market.

However, I can pretty much guarantee that when we do see a 10%-15% dip in the markets that they are going to tell everyone "they called it."

2. They Don't Wave A White Flag When The Selling Is Over

One thing I have always noticed is that when the market goes down 10%, it looks like it's going to go down another 10%. That's just the emotional nature of watching the market fall and living in fear that it is going to continue its descent. The psychological circle of panic and greed can be vicious.

Just remember back in 2009 when the market had already dropped 40% from high to low and everyone felt it was probably going down even further. Then quantitative easing kicked in, the selling stopped, and stocks rocketed higher. No one raised a white flag and said the coast is clear. You just had to either be in stocks or you got quickly left behind.

That's why it is so hard for a bear to get back into the market to realize the upside. They feed on the fear that drives their ego and allows them to thrive when stocks are falling. They are finally on the right side of the trade and no one is going to take that satisfaction away from them. Until the buyers step in that is.

I have only heard of a few rare exceptions of investors who have successfully navigated both bull and bear markets in order to capture profits in both directions.

3. They Have a Lot More Conviction Than Discipline

Most bears are unable to cope with the concept that price is the ultimate arbiter of reality. They feel that any gains in stocks are unrealized and that ultimately those who are long are going to pay the price.

However, if they aren't going to capture any of the gains on the upside, what makes you think they are going to call the top and get short in the sweet spot on the downside?

In my experience, bears are battling the market when it's rising and they are late to the party when it's falling. They lack the discipline to be steady traders because of their one-sided bias. Often times they override any risk management discipline because they feel that they know more than the market. That combination of conviction over discipline can be very dangerous to your wealth.

The Bottom Line

In my experience as a professional investor, I have come across many bears who are better marketers than they are long-term investors. Fear is a powerful motivator and they know how to push all the right buttons.

There are many people who make a great living by trading stocks on the long side and short side of the market. I am not trying to discount the notion that you can't make money when stocks are falling. However, you have to have the time, tools and discipline in order to be able to successfully implement trading strategies that work when stocks are falling.

Most traders would also tell you that they trade smaller and tighter when they are short vs. when they are long. That is because they know that at the end of the day they are fighting the natural inclination of the market, which can quickly bite them if they are not careful.

As an active portfolio manager, my preferred method of dealing with market volatility is through the use of stop losses and tactical asset allocation strategies to defend my client's capital. I don't try to call tops or have a strong conviction about the direction of the market. I simply follow my trading discipline and watch trends develop. It's not a perfect system and I have made my share of mistakes, but I am able to see both sides of the market and adapt when changes are necessary.

By staying balanced with my portfolio, I find that I am able to sleep better at night knowing that I am prepared for a number of outcomes. Markets aren't always logical, but they offer us numerous opportunities for rewards if you are committed to a successful outcome.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: David Fabian, FMD Capital Management, and/or its clients may hold positions in the ETFs and mutual funds mentioned above. The commentary does not constitute individualized investment advice. The opinions offered herein are not personalized recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities.